Method of making razor-strops



(No Model.)

J. M. PAULSEN.

METHOD 0F MAKING RAZOR STROPS.

Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

A1\I0.es33,663.

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS M. PAULSEN, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF MAKING RAZOR-STROPS.

SPECIFCATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 333,663, dated January 5, 1886.

Application filed Jannary', 1385. Serial No. 152,123. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/ Be it known that I, JULIUs M. PAULsEN, a resident of the city of Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of'New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Razor-Strops; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the invention, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar letters refer1 to similar parts in the several iigures therein.

My invention relates to improvements in razor-strops, and more particularly that kind of strops known as swing-strops.7

The object of my invention is to provide a swingstrop for razors having one or more surfaces smoothed and polished ready for immediate use.

My invention consists in subjecting a piece of canvas to moisture, removing a portion of the nap from one or more surfaces while moist or wet, and subjecting the surfaces so treated to frictional pressure, whereby they are given a smooth, even polish, all as hereinafter more fully described and set forth.

Figure l of the drawings is a plan view of a nishcd strop, the middle portion being cut out to bring the ends into view. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of same, taken at broken lines my in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken at broken line a bin Fig. 1. Figs. tand 5 are similar cross-sectional views.

vIt is well known to professional barbers that a swing'strop is preferable to a bow-strop, and a more iiexible to a less flexible one, for the reason, among others, that there is more or less pliancy in razor-blades between the edge and back, especiallyin hollow-ground7 razors, which would permit the edge to be turned away from a hard stiff surface and escape the frictional contact necessary to quickly fit it for use.

Another essential element in a swing-strop is an even polished surface, by which the edge of the razor, previously obtained by honing, is kept smooth and even, not necessarily sharpened.

It has been ascertained by experience that l the best material for swing-strops is canvas or duck, and especially linen canvas; but the great difficulty encountered has been in its preparation for use. rlhe method heretofore employed, so far as it has been attempted, has been to ill the surface pores of the canvas and gloss over its nap with stearine, wax, soap, or analogous substances. A smooth polished surface could then be easily and quickly obtained; but the strop would be almost useless for two reasons: first, the substances so employed for filling the pores tend to stiffen the strop and render it less llexible and entirely useless in damp weather; second, the outer surface of the canvas being mostly covered with these adhesive compounds, the razor is permitted to come in contact with only asmall portion of the linen or whatever material is used in the canvas; consequently a longer time is required to fitihe razor for use. The office of the adhesive substance is to assist in controlling the nap and keeping the surface in a smooth and unroughened condition, the canvas Ibeing the effective agent in'fitting the razor for use. The adhesive substances are also quite likely to become lumpy-that is, to slowly travel about upon the surface of the canvas and unevenly distribute themselves thereon.

By employing myimproved method of treating the canvas no adhesive substances are required to fit the strop for immediate and continued use.

The natural moisture of the atmosphere and the little soap that adheres to a razor when in use will be all that is required to keep my improved strop in perfect order as to flexibility and smooth polished. surfaces and wearing evenly and smoothly.

My method of preparing the canvas is to wet or moisten the surface to be treated with water, to which a little soap may be added with good effect, although itis not necessary. I then removea portion of the nap by rubbing the surface of the canvas with` some file-like instrument, which cuts and tears off aportion of the nap and breaks and smooths down a portion, which remains to form a part of the canvas surface. A portion of the nap so removed is at the same time forced by the in- IOO strument which removes it into the pores of the canvas, whereby the surface is rendered smooth and even. A polish is then added by rubbing or rolling with any smooth-surfaced instrument. The canvas is then out or folded into strips of suitable Width and length to form strops.

One end of the strop may be provided with a handle, B, formed of leather or other suitable material, fastened to the strop by a row of stitching, g, and the other end with abinding, C, provided with apertures D, adapted to receive a cord,(shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) by which the strop may be suspended from a hook or nail in the Wall ofthe room.

Figs. 3 and 4 show different methods of folding the canvas. The exposed surfaces A and A' may one or both be smoothed and polished, and the strop may be of any desired number of thicknesses or shape, and provided at one end with any suitable handle, and at the other JULIUS M. PAULSEN.

Vitnesses: Y

GEO. A. MosHER, NV. H. HoLLIsTEER, Jr. 

